Tag Archives for american express.
American Express just showed that raising the Platinum annual fee does not drive cardmembers away, with retention holding steady even after the refresh and higher pricing. Even more important, existing cardmembers are spending more, net card fees are growing faster than other revenue lines, and Amex is proving that consumers will tolerate a more expensive, credit-heavy card as long as the perks feel rich enough and keep them inside the Amex ecosystem.
American Express is adding a new Centurion lounge in Boston, a Sidecar dining outpost in Charlotte, and a major expansion of its Centurion lounge at Dallas-Fort Worth. The catch is that Boston cardmembers will be waiting until 2029, years later than originally expected.
American Express has launched a new Graphite Business card that offers unlimited 2% cash back, but it comes with a $295 annual fee in a market where 2% business cards are often free or much cheaper. Unless you place real value on Amex’s accounts-payable credits after very heavy spending, this looks like a card that charges extra for something competitors already give away.
American Express is opening a new lounge at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport that has not been publicly announced, with travelers spotting “American Express Lounge Coming Soon” signage in the terminal. The location is especially notable because it appears to be at Hongqiao rather than Pudong, pointing to a strategy focused on premium short-haul business traffic in China rather than primarly international travelers – or Americans.
American Express hasn’t announced another Sidecar location yet, but a city lease packet effectively does: the next Sidecar sit-down dining lounge is slated for Charlotte, with the agreement up for approval Monday. Unlike the tiny Las Vegas outpost, this plan is for a larger buildout.
American Express just slammed shut a popular loophole that let Delta cardholders easily turn hotel booking credits into cash—and has started reversing statement credits for cardmembers who try it.
I wasn’t supposed to get the new American Express Platinum mirror card until October—but it showed up early. Here’s a first look at the stunning new design.
American Express CEO Steve Squeri says Platinum card growth has surged to record levels, generating $10 billion a year in fees. He also hinted that Amex may soon introduce an even more exclusive ultra-premium card.
With $2,800+ in usable credits, 175,000 bonus points, and unrivaled lounge perks, here’s how the American Express Platinum Card® an easily outweigh its $895 fee—and whether it makes sense for you.
Delta isn’t just flying passengers anymore — it’s flying for the banks. On its latest earnings call, the airline admitted it’s expanding in cities like Austin and Raleigh because those markets deliver higher American Express charge volume. Routes aren’t chosen by demand alone anymore, but by where people swipe.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
